IEEE Spectrum breed · Technologie

Teenager Ruchira Shree Helps Native American Students Earn Ham Radio Licenses

Ruchira Shree, a high school student from New Jersey, interned with the Alliance for Indigenous Math Circles (AIMC), an organization that provides STEM opportunities for Native American students. During her internship, Shree and other volunteers helped students prepare for and pass the FCC technician license exam for ham radio operation.

Shree's involvement with the AIMC stemmed from her participation in IEEE Princeton Central Jersey Section (PCJS) activities. She met an AIMC intern recruiter at an IEEE event and subsequently interned at one of the AIMC's weeklong camps in Santa Fe, N.M. The AIMC aims to address the low rate of STEM pursuit among U.S. Indigenous students by offering camps that combine STEM activities with cultural elements and provide Indigenous STEM role models.

During the camp, students participated in math circles, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and STEM projects. A key activity was the "Radio Weaves" session, where interns taught students about ham radio and helped them prepare for the FCC technician license exam using a customized learning game. Nearly all the students passed the exam on their first attempt, earning their licenses.

Shree was inspired by the students' enthusiasm and the cultural exchange at the camp. This experience led her to found Rukie Cookie, a project that bakes and sells cookies to fund youth chess classes and memberships for children in underrepresented communities, addressing a financial barrier she observed at the camp. She plans to continue her involvement with AIMC, potentially adding a chess component, and is pursuing research in cognitive science and Alzheimer's disease.

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